Looking Forward to the World of Work Text: Chapter 4

Learning Personal Skills By David Agnew and Jim Wendell Arkansas State University

Objectives Define”New Career Terms” Explain the benefits of having high self-esteem List ways you can improve your self-esteem Tell why you must accept individual responsibility List four ways to improve your self-management Name six ways to become a good listener State the benefits of having integrity

New Career Terms Self-esteem - to have a high regard for, or feel good about, yourself Body Image - the way you look, and a mental picture of how you think you look Sibling - a brother or sister Perfectionist - a person who is uncomfortable with mistakes or flaws Mass Media - means of communication by which information is distributed to the general public (newspapers, radio, magazines, television, the Internet)

New Career Terms (Cont.) Individual Responsibility - being accountable, or responsible, for ourselves and our actions Chain of Command - the way that authority is distributed in an organization Self-Management - a key personal skill - organizing your time so as not to waste yours or that of others Sincerity - honest or genuine feeling Distractions - anything that draws attention away from what you really want to be doing Integrity - the quality of being honest, both to yourself and others Ethics - the rules or principles by which a person lives

Self-Esteem How you feel about all areas of your life including: Body image - how you look Your Mind - thoughts about yourself Your Behavior - actions Your Relationships With Others The core or basis of your self-esteem was formed about the age of three from interactions with influential persons in your life. Low - you feel nothing you do is good enough. High - satisfied and happy with your actions.

Self-Esteem Pointers Level can change from day to day. Usually increases during adolescent years. Praise increases self-esteem. Worrying about the future causes stress which may lower one’s self-esteem. Having periods of “ups and downs” is normal. Learn to accept yourself the way you are. Emphasize your strong points. Down play your weak points. Learn to accept praise. Be kind to yourself. Get involved and participate in activities because you have less time to dwell on your shortcomings.

Improving Self-Esteem Relax your mind and body. Give yourself permission to fail. Send yourself “feel good” messages. Write encouraging notes to yourself. Try to look your best - if you look good, you will feel good about yourself. Learn to enjoy life. Learn to handle trouble responsibly. Take the responsibility for your life. Live in the present - make the most of today.

Individual Responsibility and Self-Management This is being accountable or responsible for ourselves and our actions. Teaches one to make decisions to complete tasks. Self-Management is a personal skill useful in directing, controlling, or organizing one’s life by: Setting both short term and long term goals Focusing on goals to achieve success Discipline and avoidance of distractions Rewards come after, not before, you have completed a goal.

Effective Leadership An effective leader must: Show enthusiasm for work and group members. Work with the group to solve problems. Give group members responsibility. Praise group members. Treat all members fairly and considerately. Make decisions only after receiving group’s input. Respect member’s ideas and opinions.

Social Skills Most people feel uncomfortable when meeting new people. It is important to learn how to meet new people in the world of work. Your interaction with others may determine your work place success. Be friendly toward all others by showing a sincere interest in them.

Good Listening Skills Maintain eye contact with the speaker. Listen attentively. Remember what you are hearing. Give verbal and nonverbal signals to the speaker. Try to see the speaker’s point of view. Give appropriate feedback, comments, or questions after the speaker has finished.

Integrity and Ethics These character traits can determine both your career and life’s success. Integrity is the quality of being honest. Ethics are a set of personal values that you use to judge yourself. Your whole life is governed by these traits. If you lie, steal, or cheat people won’t know if they can trust you to be honest with them. You may lose your good reputation and the respect of others causing all relationships in your life to suffer.

In Summary Self-Esteem is important in your life Individual responsibility is needed for success in life and career Importance of the improvement of your self-management Advantages of being a good listener The benefits of integrity and ethics are listed

The End